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Volume 72, No. 3 • 2012
A NEWSLETTER OF THE OKLAHOMA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
The University of Oklahoma MEWBOURNE COLLEGE OF EARTH & ENERGY
TER Julie M. Chang, OGS Geologist
INTRODUCTION
The Oklahoma Geological Survey obtained grant funding
from the U.S. Department of Energy to compile and digi-tize
geothermal data for the state of Oklahoma as well
as to obtain a limited amount of new data. This funding
is part of the State Geothermal Data project (http://
www.stategeothermaldata.org), which is organized by
the Association of American State Geologists and whose
goal is to “bring data from all 50 states into the
National Geothermal Data System.” In Oklahoma, one
aspect of this geothermal project involves compiling
old and obtaining new heat production data. Previous
geothermal investigations in Oklahoma include Carter
et al. (1998), Lee et al. (1994), Luza et al. (1984), and
Harrison et al. (1983).
Heat Production in Oklahoma:
Old and New Data
Continued on pg. 2
WHAT IS HEAT PRODUCTION?
Heat production in the earth is a measure of how much
heat is released by the radioactive decay of elements
such as uranium (U), thorium (Th), and potassium (K).
In igneous rocks, heat production generally decreases
from felsic to ultramafi c rocks (Wollenberg and Smith,
1987). For example, heat production for felsic, interme-diate,
mafi c, and ultramafi c igneous rocks is ~4 micro-watts
per cubic meter (W/m3); ~2 W/m3; ~1 W/m3;
and 0.3 W/m3, respectively. Peralkaline (low aluminum;
high sodium and potassium) intrusive igneous rocks may
have heat production values up to 12-20 W/m3. Silici-clastic
sedimentary rocks commonly have higher heat
production values (2-4 W/m3) than do chemical sedi-mentary
rocks (0.4-2 W/m3). Of the siliciclastic sedi-
Figure 1. Map of Oklahoma (Miser, 1954) showing
heat production (W/m3) in Oklahoma (after Cran-ganu
et al., 1998). Black squares = Cranganu et al.
(1998); blue circles = Lee et al. (1996); red triangles
= Borel (1995); yellow x = Roy et al. (1968).
Q3 OGS Notes 2012 rev.indd 1 10/29/2012 4:47:07 PM

Volume 72, No. 3 • 2012
A NEWSLETTER OF THE OKLAHOMA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
The University of Oklahoma MEWBOURNE COLLEGE OF EARTH & ENERGY
TER Julie M. Chang, OGS Geologist
INTRODUCTION
The Oklahoma Geological Survey obtained grant funding
from the U.S. Department of Energy to compile and digi-tize
geothermal data for the state of Oklahoma as well
as to obtain a limited amount of new data. This funding
is part of the State Geothermal Data project (http://
www.stategeothermaldata.org), which is organized by
the Association of American State Geologists and whose
goal is to “bring data from all 50 states into the
National Geothermal Data System.” In Oklahoma, one
aspect of this geothermal project involves compiling
old and obtaining new heat production data. Previous
geothermal investigations in Oklahoma include Carter
et al. (1998), Lee et al. (1994), Luza et al. (1984), and
Harrison et al. (1983).
Heat Production in Oklahoma:
Old and New Data
Continued on pg. 2
WHAT IS HEAT PRODUCTION?
Heat production in the earth is a measure of how much
heat is released by the radioactive decay of elements
such as uranium (U), thorium (Th), and potassium (K).
In igneous rocks, heat production generally decreases
from felsic to ultramafi c rocks (Wollenberg and Smith,
1987). For example, heat production for felsic, interme-diate,
mafi c, and ultramafi c igneous rocks is ~4 micro-watts
per cubic meter (W/m3); ~2 W/m3; ~1 W/m3;
and 0.3 W/m3, respectively. Peralkaline (low aluminum;
high sodium and potassium) intrusive igneous rocks may
have heat production values up to 12-20 W/m3. Silici-clastic
sedimentary rocks commonly have higher heat
production values (2-4 W/m3) than do chemical sedi-mentary
rocks (0.4-2 W/m3). Of the siliciclastic sedi-
Figure 1. Map of Oklahoma (Miser, 1954) showing
heat production (W/m3) in Oklahoma (after Cran-ganu
et al., 1998). Black squares = Cranganu et al.
(1998); blue circles = Lee et al. (1996); red triangles
= Borel (1995); yellow x = Roy et al. (1968).
Q3 OGS Notes 2012 rev.indd 1 10/29/2012 4:47:07 PM